Order of Precedence

In the year 1532, the Companies were placed at the Mayor’s Feast in the Guildhall in the following order:—

1. Mercers. 2. Grocers. 3. Drapers. 4. Fishmongers. 5. Goldsmiths. 6. Skinners. 7. Merchant Taylors. 8. Vintners. 9. Ironmongers. 10. Merchant Haberdashers. 11. Salters. 12. Dyers. 13. Leathersellers. 14. Pewterers. 15. Cutlers. 16. Armourers. 17. Wax Chandlers. 18. Tallow Chandlers. 19. Shiremen. 20. Fullers. 21. Sadlers. 22. Brewers. 23. Scriveners. 24. Butchers. 25. Bakers. 26. Poulterers. 27. Stationers. 28. Inn-holders. 29. Girdlers. 30. Chirurgeons. 31. Founders. 32. Barbers. 33. Upholders. 34. Broderers. 35. Bowyers. 36. Fletchers. 37. Turners. 38. Cordwainers. 39. Painter-stainers. 40. Masons. 41. Plumbers. 42. Carpenters. 43. Pouchmakers. 44. Joiners. 45. Coopers. 46. Glaziers. 47. Linen Drapers. 48. Woodmongers. 49. Curriers. 50. Foystors. 51. Grey Tanners. 52. Tylers. 53. Weavers. 54. Blacksmiths. 55. Loriners. 56. Spurriers. 57. Wire Sellers. 58. Fruiterers. 59. Farriers. 60. Bladesmiths.

In Stow and Strype, 1755, there is a list of that date:—

Mercers.

Grocers.

Drapers.

Fishmongers.

Goldsmiths.

Skinners.

Merchant Taylors.

Haberdashers.

Salters.

Ironmongers.

Vintners.

Clothworkers.

Dyers.

Brewers.

Leather Sellers.

Pewterers.

Barbers.

Cutlers.

Bakers.

Wax Chandlers.

Tallow Chandlers.

Armourers.

Girdlers and Pinners.

Butchers.

Sadlers.

Carpenters.

Cordwainers.

Apothecaries.

Painter-stainers.

Curriers.

Masons.

Plumbers.

Inn-holders.

Founders.

Poulterers.

Cooks.

Coopers.

Tilers and Bricklayers.

Bowyers.

Fletchers.

Blacksmiths.

Joiners.

Weavers.

Woolpackers.

Woodmongers.

Scriveners.

Fruiterers.

Plaisterers.

Stationers.

Embroiderers.

Upholders.

Musicians.

Turners.

Basketmakers.

Glaziers.

Farriers.

Loriners.

Paviors.

Bottlemakers and Horners.

Glovers.

Felt Makers.

Long Bowstring Makers.

Watermen.

Silk-Throwsters.

Starchmakers.

Pinmakers.

Clockmakers.

Spectacle Makers.

Combmakers.

Parish Clerks.

Surgeons.

Card Makers.

Carmen.

Coachmakers.

Distillers.

Fanmakers.

Fishermen.

Frame-knitters.

Gardeners.

Glassmakers.

Gold and Silver Wire-drawers.

Gunsmiths.

Hatband Makers.

Needlemakers.

Pattenmakers.

Porters.

Shipwrights.

Silkmen.

Soapmakers.

Tin-plate Workers.

Tobacco-pipe Makers.

Wheelwrights.

Woolmen.

(Stow, vol. ii. pp. 335-336.)

Comparing the two lists we find in them changes of no great importance in the order. The Dyers, for instance, are twelfth; the Fullers, Chirurgeons, Foystors, Grey Tanners, Spurriers and Wire Sellers have gone; and there are only sixty in the former to ninety-three in the latter list.

If we compare the second list with that at the present time, we find that no new Companies have been formed, but that the following have disappeared from the list:—